Am I the only one who hates the term "Public Service" I have a hard
time thinking any of these guys who are making over $130 K a year are serving
me. Also based off what they have accomplished in the last 50 years I
don't see a whole lot of service but a whole lot of power grab.

Amen to the above comment, Years ago it may have been public service. The day
after you get elected and you start planning for your next election, or you put
your self interests ahead of the country its no longer public service. Public
service would mean you have the same social security and health coverage as the
average citizen has. Someone with good intentions can go to Washington and
either they get sucked into Power grab or they get ostracized.

It is public service since the vast majority of members of Congress would make
double what they earn in serving in Congress. They give up their time and
sacrifice time with their family to do what they thing is right. Members on
both sides of the aisle are doing why they believe to be correct. That is why
we have a representative form of government that should be encouraging debate.

The only people that think their salary is great are those that have
never been in a top position to earn a good salary. Most members take major
salary cuts when they come to Congress but they do so for their own reasons,
most thinking they can make a change in the direction of the country and have a
positive impact. You can agree or disagree with them but they are following
their beliefs. If enough people disagree with them they won't be
reelected. But make no mistake, they sacrifice both earning capability and
family life.

JMH (Jim Matheson Here?): You're not entirely right when you say, "It
is public service since the vast majority of members of Congress would make
double what they earn in serving in Congress."

That's true
for many members of Congress, but certainly not all of them. Many (most?) were
not earning 170k+ per year in the private sector before going to Congress. Orrin
Hatch, for example, has become a very rich man while "serving" in
Congress.

Waa Waa, nobodies holding a gun to their head, when I was teaching school,
coaching, and working my tail off during the summers- I wasn't spending
much time with my young family either, but that was due to necessity. I
understand Congress works from Monday noon-Thursday noon. If they are spending
their extended weekend campaigning for the next election that's their
choice. Is this article just a lead in to Matheson's run for governor.